Weed removing implement



May 16, 1933. s, H. DONALDSON WEED REMOVING IMPLEMENT Filed NOV. 29,1952 Patented May 16, 1933 UNiTEfi STATES? ATENT GFFICE GEORGE E.DONALDSON, or wusr HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT I WEED REMOVING IMPLEMENTApplication filed November 29, 1932. Serial No. 644,758.

This invention relates to an implement its lower end fitted: into thecurved shanks which is more especially designed for reand down intothefrog. I v moving weeds from lawns and gardens, but I The side edges 5.of the blade from the nar which is also well adapted for use in plantrowlower endto'the wide upper end are'con i d t ti l t h ub and cave, thecurves preferably being parabolic.

t bl On the back of the blade and extending up- The object of theinvention is to provide Ward from the tip and along the side edges adurable, light and inexpensive implement re 1 SI6'Whieh may be formedintegral with which, owing to its construction may, with h blade or W lhereto- The lower see- 10 but little effort, be used for the abovementlons vof these s c form to he side ges tioned purposes, and by meansof which of the blade. At the top of the blade and exweedsthat havelong, deep growing roots, endlng outw rd from the shank are foot such asdandelion and dock, can be entirely pla s Z that at their outer endshave ears 8 removed from sod or gravel soil so they will lle ale'turneddown over the-side edgeso not again spring up, without tearing or perttop of the blade. 65 manently injurying turf or making a large I11 11 mgthls mplement for removing from 1 1 i th il, sod a WQGCl WhlCl'l isdeeply rooted, cuts may In attaining this object the implement has e a e011 tWO diametrically opposite sides a blade that is much narrower atits bottom and then at the outer end of one cut the im-- edge than atits top edge, and that has its side pl ent is forced into the ground at11011 70 edges, which extend from the narrow bottom all ngl EL t raisehe vaIId Cause it to to the wide top, concaved on parabolic open a o gs- The Sod thus raised curves. On the back of the blade extending es tWeed. root free to be lifted from from the bottom edge toward the topalong he penedcut, after which the sod may be the curved side edgesareribs which not only pr s dOWIl bythe foo 0f the vllSeI' Of the 75strengthen the blade and reinforce its edges mplement and as the sod hasnot been torn but facilitate its entry into the ground when 1t returnsto place without apparent, scar. put to use. At the top of the blade isthe Weeds with less deep rootsmay beraised by usual frog and shank thatreceive the lower one insertion of the implement turned edger end of thehandle of common form. Exwise so as to out under the roots. Aclump or 30tending from the shank on each side along bunch of weeds may be takenout by pushing the top edge of the blade are foot pieces that theblade-into th eg und adjacent the roots at their outer ends havedownturned ears. and then prying and twisting the implement Fig. l ofthe accompanying drawing shows with a motion which loosens the roots sothat a front view of the implement. they may be easily pulled out. 85

Fig. 2 shows a side view. The blade beingvery narrow at the-lower Fig. 3shows a back view. end goes into the ground easily and with less.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the blade fatigue to the user and raisesless sodwhen with the ribs, frog, shank, foot pieces and prying up underwherethe cut is made than ears. an implement with a wide lower. edgesuch 99 Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal section as a spade, or animplement with convex taken on the plane indicated by the dotted curvededges. The width of the blade at line 5-5 on Fig. 1. the upper endprovides against cutting into Fig. 6 shows a section on the plane indiordamaging soft sod or soil at the back when cated by the dotted line 66on Fig. 1. the implement is manipulated for prying up The blade 1 may bestamped or forged to roots. The implement although of light shape ofrelatively thin sheet metal with an weight may be used for raisingstones, and integral frog 2 at its upper end and the for grubb ing forbrush roots. The welded shanks 3 extending from the frog. The ribs onthe back not only impart strength to handle 4 which may be of commonform has the blade so that it will not bendwhen it is tipped for pryingup an object, and also protect the edges from becoming bent or broken,but allow the blade to be made of thinner metal than usual, which, ofcourse, 5 makes the implement light and easy to handle. The ears at theends of the foot pieces, bent over the sides of the blade at the top,not only strengthen the upper edge of the blade but they afford aresistance which prevents the top of the blade from cutting into softsoil whenprying with an edge of the implement turned up.

The invention claimed is: l. A weed removing implement comprising ablade formed of relatively thin sheet metal havinga narrow lower edgeand a wide upper edge, the side edgesof the blade being formedon concavecurves from the narrowloweredge to the wide upper edge, with projectingribs on the back extending along the curved side edges of the blade fromthe lower end up, said blade having a frog, shank and a handle with itsend inserted into the shank and frog, and foot pieces extending alongthe upper edge of the blade outwardly from'the shank. 7

2. A- weed removing implement comprising a "blade formed of sheet metalhaving'a narrow lower edge and a wide upper edge,

39 the side edges of the blade being formed on concave curves from thenarrow lower edge to the wide upper edge, said blade having a frog,shank and a handle with its end inserted into the shank and frog, andfoot pieces extending outwardly from the shank each way along the upperedge of and permanently attached to the blade and having enlarged earsat their outer ends which are bent down-' ward over the side edges ofthe blade.

40 3. A weed removing implement comprising' a blade formed of sheetmetal having a narrow lower edge and a wide upper edge, the side edgesof the blade being formed on concave parabolic curves from the narrowlower edge to-the wide upper edge, with projeoting ribs on the backextending along the curved side edges part way up from the lower end,said blade having a frog, shank and ahandle with its end inserted intothe shank and frog, and foot pieces'extending outwardly from the shankalong the upper edge of the blade and having at theirouter ends enlargedears which are bent downward over the side edges of the blade.

v GEORGE H, DONALDSON.

